Stroud District Council completed the purchase of land at Bath Place, Cheapside in Stroud town centre from Newland Homes which marks the first step in regeneration of the Wallbridge area.
The 0.9 acre brownfield canal side plot, which has stood empty for decades, also includes the fire-damaged Grade II Listed former canal warehouse. Although the land already has consent for development, the Council will be looking to prepare new site plans, to improve connections between the canal and the town centre, and to rebalance the size and types of housing.
Council Leader Catherine Braun says she is delighted this milestone has been reached: “The sale follows extensive legal work by both sides and we are grateful to Newland Homes for agreeing to sell the site to us.
“Breathing new life into Bath Place will help connect the two gateways of the town’s railway station and Wallbridge.”
Deputy Council Leader Natalie Bennet says this is a big step forward: “We are committed to delivering our Council Plan which aims to both regenerate our town and our economy. This scheme does just that as it will create jobs and revitalise this historic part of the town, attracting more visitors to the area.
“There is a lot of work that now needs to be done to understand how Bath Place fits in with our long-term vision for this part of the town and that of our partners, and how it links with and helps unlock other schemes. We look forward to working with Stroud Town Council and our other partners on our ideas and plans develop for this important site.”
Andrew Billings, Land Director at Newland Homes says he is delighted with today’s news: “We have been fully committed to seeing this challenging site come to fruition and we are delighted that the Council recognises its potential and is investing in its future.”
To find out more about this project, please visit the News pages on the Council’s website.
